Switch-operating apparatus



Patented Feb. l2, 1924.

UNITED STATES maar PA-,raar orifice.

DAVID D.l GORDON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MCGILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

SWITCH-OPERATINGAPPARATUS Application filed April 20, 1918, Serial No. 225,743. Renewed October 8, 1923.

To all whom t may concern: v

Be it known that I, DAVID D. GORDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switch-Operating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to switch operating apparatus and has to do more particularly with switch mechanism pertaining to lamp sockets one of the objects being to provide an improved and simplified device of this character and one in which the operating key or lever is removably secured to the switch mechanism so that it may be taken 0E vfor refinishing or readily interchanged. Another feature is the provision of an improved and flexibleconnection between the operating lever and the switch movement.

In devices of this character the socket and switch operating key or lever may be carried in stock separated from the enclosing shell and cap,` and where the levei is metal, as in the present case, it is advantageous to have it readily removable so that levers of different finish may be interchanged to correspond with the finishen the enclosing shell and capa Also in most of the standard shells, key slots are provided through which the operating key or lever of the switch movement projects. In the present form of device this lever vrests upon a seat which protrudes from the socket and shell slot, acting as a guide to prevent relative rotary movement of the shell and socket. This seat being preferably fixedv to the movement, and the movement being interchangeable with different shells and caps, it is very desirable that the seat be practically invisible so that the exposed part may have a standard finish, whereby due to the small portion visible it may be used. with shells ofl different finishes. It is also very desirable to have a readily removable lever which may be taken ofi for refinishing or levers of different finish readily interchanged. These various features are present in my invention.

However, for a better understanding of lmy invention reference is to be had to the vaccompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section through the preferred form of switch mechanism with the switch closed;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

F ig: 3 is a view showing the switch movement 1n its open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of F `ig. 1 but reduced somewhat in size;

Fig. 5 1s a perspective view of the switch movement mounting frame;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of two of the switch parts;

Fig. 7 ,is so called horseshoe terminal which is connected to the threaded shell of the socket; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the connector inside the lever.

Fig. 9 is a side View of the shell removed from the cap and showing the slot for receiving the operating lever or key.

Referring now more particularly to the preferred form of my invention, it comprises an insulation base preferably in the form of an upper porcelain block 10 and low'er porcelain block 11 which are recessed at their adjoining faces to enclose the switch movement. key and an insulating lining 13 are also provided with a cap 1i having a recessed skirt 16 adapted to receive a correspondinglyshaped flange 17 on the collapsible end of the shell 12. It is of course` to be understood that my invention is by no means limited to any particular type of shell but the form shown is merely for the purpose of illustration.

A threaded socket shell'18 is suitably attached to the lower insulation block 11 preferably by means of rivets 19, 20 (Fig. 4) which extend through a horseshoe terminal plate 21 carrying a binding post or terminal 22 projecting upwardly along a slot 23 in the peripheral face of block 11, and carries a terminal screw 24 to which one of the current conductors is attached.

A shell 12 slotted to receive the Rca `Now as to the' switch movement, this includes a frame A. having a pair of threaded ears 25, 26 by means of which the frame is attached to the block 11 through the medium of screws 27. This frame A also carries a pair of side arms 28 having switch arm pivot pins 29 upon which the switch arm 30 is supported. `"This switch arm 30 which is adapted to close the circuit through the lamp is preferably insulated from the rest of the mechanism and therefore l provide insulating collars 31,which surround the pivot pins 29 and extend through the switch arm 30, so that this switch arm is insulated from the frame A. The Switch arm 30 has a reciprocating operating movement so as to open and close the circuit by a snap action, and to this end l connect this Aarm 30 to an operating key or lever B through a helical' spring 32, intermediate link 33,Y and pull link 34. ln order to fully insulate the switch arm 30 from the rest of the movement, the spring 32 is connected to the arm 30 throug the medium of a T shaped insulating piece 30a, the cross-head of which extends along the outermost face of the 30 while its other portion is connected with the spring 32. The other end of the spring 3,2 hooks over the yoke of the intermediate link 33 which link has a. pair of lugs 35 which hook into the slotted ends 36 of thepull link 34. It will be noted that the intermediate link 33 has upper and lower hook extensions 37, and 38 respectively which are adapted to engage the ends 39, 40 respectively ot the frame A, so that this intermediatelink 33 will pivot about the axis 39 or axis 40, (according to its position) Whenever the o erating link 34 is pulled toward the left. igs. 1 and 3).V

The switch arm 30 is adapted to close and open the circuit through the lamp and to this end I provide contacts 41 and 42, contact 41 being connected to the binding post or terminal 43 which is attached to the insulating block 11 and carries a terminal screw 44. The switch contact 42 iszconnected to the center lamp-terminal 45, the parts 42 and 45 being preferably an integral punching. The Contact portion 42 extends through a slot in the block l1 into the path of the switch arm 30 andconnects with the plate portion which is bent back to form the yielding terminal 45. In order to insulate the Contact element 42. 45 from the adjacent threaded sleeve contact elements 18, 21, a ridge 46 projects from the face of the insulating blockl 11 and around the contact element 42. 45, having a peculiar shape as shown in Fig. 4.

The circuit through the device extends from the line terminal 43 through switch contacts 41, switch arm 30.. switch ntact 42 and its integrally connected centr lamp contact 45. the filament of the lamp to the threaded shell 18. horseshoe terminal 2l and flanged seat or rest 51 which is fixed to the frame A so as to protrude from the shell and with the flange of the seat acting as a guide for the shell 12 when the socket is invserted therein. That is. when the socket is inserted in the shell 12 the wall of the shell is guided between the laterally projecting portions of the seat 51 and the insulation 13 or insulating blocks 10 and 11. A boss 52 extends from the flange of the seat 51 and acts as a guide for the lever 50, the boss 52 extending into a 'recessed portion of the lever so as to always eftect a concentric seating of these parts. This boss and flange construction of the seat, also provides a universal pivot for the lever when tilted as indicated in Fig. 3.

In order to vconnect lever 50 with the movement I provide a flexible link in the form of 'a standard ball chain consisting of a plurality of balls 54 connected by wire links, the inner ball 54 being hooked into the yoke end of the link 34 while the outer ball 54 is carried in the end of a sleeve 55. This sleeve is drawn in at its ends so as to leave a small opening to permit the wire connection between the balls to extend therethrough, and also'contains a longitudinal slot 56 so that the ball may be inserted through the central opening 57 and then slid along to the end of the sleeve. The outer end of the, sleeve is adapted to carry an operating extension in the form of a pull chain 58 or an ordinary cord if desired. This sleeve 55 is held in the lever 5() by means of a screw 59, the sleeve being slidable in the lever 50 and therefore may be adjusted so as to take up inaccuracies of manufacture or adjustment, it simply being necessary to slide the lever 50 over the sleeve 55 until it rests upon the seat 51, and then take up the set screw 59. n

Lpreferably employ a link 54 which is slightly stronger than the outer pull chain 58 so in case of a breakage, it will occur outside the shell and thus obviate the necessity of repairing parts inside the device.

One of the important advantages of my improved construction is that the xed seat which protrudes from the shell is visible only to such a slight extent that a standard finish thereof may be employed such as will go readily with any finish of shell and lever. Furthermore, the lever being readily removable, it is, of course, interchangeable and thus it is easy to provide levers and 'shells of a corresponding finish. Also, the

, is concerned.

Operation.

Now as to the operation of the switch mechanism, when the switch in its closed position as shown in is universally operable, may be tilted in any direction, that is, up or down or sideways, or it may be pulled straight out, thereby drawing link 34 toward the left. The intermediate link 33 therefore, is rotated about its hooked pivot 37, 39 so that the Aleft end moves upwardly against the tension of spring 32. This upward movement continues by reg son of the pull upon lever 50 until the portion to which the spring 32 is attached has passed above a line between the pivot 29 and the fastening 35 of the switch arm 30. At this time the spring 32 immediately acts to draw the switch arm from its circuit position across contacts 41, 42 by a quick snap action. This operation has brought the lower hook 38 of the interme diate link 33 to a point above the lower extension 40 of the frame A and. back of its extremity, that is with the lever stillfully operated. However, as soon as the pressure or pull upon lever 50 is released, it is drawn back to its seat by the action of the spring 32 which pulls the intermediate link 33 toward the right, its lower point 38 riding along on the inner surface of 40, -until it reaches the extremity at which time it drops down into the position indicated in Fig. 3

and the continued restoring movement of the lever 50 permits a further movement of the hook 38 until there is a slight clearance between the extremity of the portion 40 as indicated between parts 37 and 390i Fig. 1.

The switch is now open and in order to close it the lever 50 is again operated resulting in a reverse operation o the switch arm 30, the action in this case being the same as in its opening movement, that is a quick snap closing operation.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown a preferred form but it is to be understood that I contemplate applying it in other ways than that shown and therefore I do not desire to be limited to the exact structure shown and described but aim to cover all that which comes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersl Patent is:

1. Switching mechanism for lamp sockets comprising a shell a switch movement having a frame carryin a iixed seat rotruding from the shell, an an external y secured Fig. 1, lever 50, which readily removable universal lever tiltably resting on the seat and connected with the switch movement.

2. Switchingmechanism comprising a cover, a switch movement having a frame carrying a fixed seat protruding from the cover, a lever universally tiltably resting upon the seat whereby the seat acts as a fulcriun for the lever, and an externally readily disconnectible connection between the lever and movement.

3. The combination with a switch mechanism of abearing member a hollow operaiing lever for said mechanism having an end thereof engaging said bearing member and a connection extending from said vlever to said mechanism comprisinga retaining clip mounted in the interior of said lever, and a'pull connection connected at one end to the switch mechanism and at the other en-'l to said clip.

4. Switching mechanism ets comprising a slotted shell, a switch movement having .a frame projecting through the slot in the shell, a flanged seat secured to the outer endV of the projecting portion and a tiltable lever seating around the edge of the seat flange, said lever being removably and universally connected to the switch movement through said seat.

5. Switching mechanism comprising a switch-movement having a frame, a seat on the frame, a universally tiltable lever resting upon the seat, and an intermediately yieldable connection `extending from the lever through the seat to the movement.

6. Switching mechanism comprising a switch-movement having a frame, a seat on the-frame, a universally tiltable lever resting upon the seat, and an'intermediately yieldable connection extending from the lever through the seat to the movement, said lever -being readily removably attached to said connection.

7. Switching mechanism comprising a switch movement having a frame, a seat on the frame, a tiltable lever resting upon the seat whereby the seat acts as a fulcrum llforV the lever, and a connection between the lever and movement to which the lever is adjustably and readily removably secured.

8. Switching mechanism for' lamp sockets comprising a slotted shell, a switch movement having a frame, a flanged seat fixedly secured to the trame. the flange oi the seat together with the frame acting as a guide for the insertion of the movement into the shell.

9. Switching mechanism for lamp sockets comprising a slotted shell, a switch movement having a frame, a ianged seat iixedly secured to the trame, and protruding from the slot in the shell, said seat and frame acting as a guide for the insertion of the movement into the shell, and said iis frame acting to prevent relative rotation of the frame and shell. c

10. Switching mechanism comprising a switch-movement, a seat. a tiltablc lever resting against the seat, a sleeve removably held inside the lever` and means for connecting a movement link at one end of the sleeve and a pull-chain to the other end ot the sleeve.

11. The combination with a switch mechanism of a hollovv operating lever for said mechanism and means connecting said lever With said mechanism comprising a retaining clip mounted in the interior of said lever, a securing member mounted in said evcr and engaging said clip and a pull connection extending 'endwise from said lever and connected at one end to the switch mechanism and at the other end to said clip.

12. The combination with a switch mechanism of a hollow operating lever for said mechanism and a connection extending lon itudinally thru said lever to said mec ianism comprising a retaining clip mounted lengthwise in the hollow of said lever, a securing member mounted in said lever and extending into the hollow thereof to hold Said clip in said lever, and a connection secured at one end to the switch mecha nisin and at the other end to said clip.

13. The combination with a switch mechanism of an operating lever for said mechanism having a longitudinally extending bore therein and a connection extending from said lever to said mechanism compris ing a retaining clip mounted in said bore and extending longitudinally of said lever, and a pull connection extending from one end of said lever and connected at one end to the switch mechanism and at the other end to said clip,

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th da of April A. D. 1918.

D vm D. eoRDoN. 

